Method of installing a shower rod mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

A bracket for mounting a curved shower rod on a previously installed straight shower rod. The bracket includes a body having a first member that defines a first bore for receiving an end of the curved shower rod therein, and a second member defining a second bore for receiving a portion of the straight shower rod therein. The first member extends outwardly from the second member at an angle. The second member comprises first and second regions that are movable away from each other to capture a portion of the straight shower rod between them. A securement mechanism locks the first and second regions together to prevent the bracket from disengaging from the straight shower rod. A second mounting bracket is similarly engaged on an opposite end of the straight shower rod and receives a second end of the curved shower rod therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/980,408,filed Dec. 29, 2010, the entire specification of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to bath fixtures. More particularly,the invention relates to shower rods. Specifically, the inventionrelates to a mounting bracket that is engageable with a previouslyinstalled straight shower rod and is configured to retain an end of acurved shower rod therein.

2. Background Information

Shower curtains are supported by shower rods that extend betweenopposing side walls of a bathtub enclosure. For many years, the typicalshower rod has taken the form of an elongated tubular member that issubstantially straight. Recently, however, it has become fashionable touse a curved shower rod. The curved rods tend to let more light into thebathtub enclosure, makes the bathroom more aesthetically appealing, andallows more room in the shower.

If a homeowner wishes to change the appearance of the bathroom byincluding a curved shower rod, they can simply remove the straightshower rod and install a curved rod. This operation can be problematicbecause the type of bracket used to install straight shower rods are notgenerally suitable for installing curved rods. The homeowner may wellhave to drill new holes for installing fasteners for the curved rodbracket. If the bathtub enclosure is tiled, repairing the old holes isextremely problematic and unsightly. If the job is not done correctly,there is the risk that moisture could enter through the old bracketholes and lead to the tiles separating from the backer board. If thebathtub enclosure is a prefabricated vinyl material then, once again,making a new set of screw holes creates problems down the road.Additionally, if the homeowner is renting his home, the landlord couldobject to or prohibit the homeowner from making this type of renovation.

There is therefore a need in the art for a quick and simple way ofmounting a curved shower rod in a bathtub enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention comprises a bracket for mounting acurved shower rod on a previously installed straight shower rod. Thebracket includes a body having a first member that defines a first borefor receiving an end of the curved shower rod therein, and a secondmember defining a second bore for receiving a portion of the straightshower rod therein. The first member extends outwardly from the secondmember at an angle. The second member comprises first and second regionsthat are movable away from each other to capture a portion of thestraight shower rod between them. A securement mechanism locks the firstand second regions together to prevent the bracket from disengaging fromthe straight shower rod. A second mounting bracket is similarly engagedon an opposite end of the straight shower rod and receives a second endof the curved shower rod therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the bestmode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, areset forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings andare particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bathtub enclosure with one side wallremoved for clarity and showing the shower rod mounting bracket inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket in accordance withthe present invention and showing an end of each of a straight showerrod and a curved shower rod engaged therewith;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket exploded outwardlyaway from a straight shower rod while being engaged with an end portionof a curved shower rod;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket with the curved rodseparated therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 7 is bottom view of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the mounting bracketwith an end of a curved rod engaged in a first member thereof, and witha second member thereof in an opened position ready to be engaged with aportion of a straight shower rod;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the mounting bracketengaged with the ends of each of the straight and curved shower rods;and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional top view of the mounting bracket and endsof the shower rods taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, there is shown a mounting bracket for a showerrod in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at10. FIG. 1 shows a bathtub enclosure 12 having one side wall removed forthe sake of clarity. Enclosure 12 includes a straight shower rod 14extending between a first wall 16 and an opposed second wall (notshown). Shower rod 14 is disposed a distance above the center of a frontwall 18 of a bathtub 20 and is generally parallel thereto. A first end14 a of straight rod 14 is secured by a standard ring bracket 22 a tofirst wall 16. A second end 14 b of rod 14 is secured by a secondstandard ring bracket 22 b to the second wall. Ring brackets 22 a, 22 bare fixedly secured to the first and second walls by fasteners 23 (FIG.10). Alternatively, ring brackets 22 a, 22 b may be secured to first andsecond walls by an adhesive or some other permanent securement method ormay be secured by a semipermanent method such as by a compressive forcesupplied by spring disposed within rod 14.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, mountingbracket 10 is configured to engage the existing installed shower rod 14.Furthermore, mounting bracket 10 provides a way for securing a curvedshower rod 60 in enclosure 12 without having to disassemble and removethe existing straight shower rod 14. Existing rod 14 may then beemployed for other purposes such as hanging towels 66 and other usefulitems. Curved rod 60 may take any one of a variety of configurationsthat includes an arcuate or curved section. Bracket 10 is capable ofengaging a wide variety of different configurations of curved rod 60.Curved rod 60 may also be configured to telescope or otherwise adjust sothat it can be expanded to fit into different size shower stalls. So,for instance, rod 60 may be able to be adjusted to have a length ofbetween sixty inches and seventy two inches.

Mounting bracket 10 is a unitary one-piece component molded from asuitable material such as polyvinyl chloride. Bracket 10 comprises abody having a first member 24 and a second member 26 that aresubstantially coplanar. Preferably, both of first member 24 and secondmember 26 are substantially tubular in configuration. As will be furtherdescribed herein, first member 24 is configured to engage a curvedshower rod 60 and second member 26 is configured to engage a previouslyinstalled straight shower rod 14. Since first and second members 24, 26are coplanar, curved shower rod 60 is retained by bracket 10 in such amanner that it is substantially coplanar with straight shower rod 14.

First member 24 includes a wall 24 a that is substantially circular incross-sectional shape and has a first end 24 b and a second end 24 c.Wall 24 a defines a tubular first bore 28 therein that extends betweenthe first and second regions 24 b, 24 c. As shown in FIG. 7, first end24 b of wall 24 a includes a beveled edge 30. First member 24 is of afirst diameter D1 (FIG. 5).

Second member 26 includes a wall 26 a having a first end 26 b and asecond end 26 c. Wall 26 a defines a longitudinal bore 30 therein thatextends from first end 26 b to second end 26 c. As shown in FIG. 10,second member 26 has a longitudinal axis “Y” that extends between firstand second ends 26 b, 26 c. The longitudinal axis “Y” will be alignedwith the longitudinal axis of the straight rod 14 when mounting bracket10 is engaged therewith. In accordance with another feature of thepresent invention, second member 26 defines a longitudinally alignedslot 34 (FIG. 4) that extends between first and second ends 26 b, 26 cthereof. Slot 34 is in operational communication with second bore 32.Second member 26 further defines a living hinge 36 therein. Living hinge36 is disposed opposite slot 34 and effectively divides second member 26into a first side “B” and a second side “C” (FIG. 1). Preferably, livinghinge 36 is formed by cutting a generally U-shaped rectangular notchinto the interior wall of second member 26. The notch preferably has awidth of around 0.25″. Because of slot 34 and hinge 36, first side “B”of second member 26 is rotatable away from second side “C” thereof abouthinge 36. This enables the user to increase the size of slot 34 betweenfirst and second sides “B”, “C” and thus the size of second bore 32therein. It will be understood that the notch of hinge 36 may be formedin a narrower V-shape rather than the wider U-shape without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. However, it has been found thatthe U-shaped notch gives greater flexibility to second member 26 whenrotating first and second sides “B”, “C” away from each other. Any othertypes of hinge may be utilized on second member 26 without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wall 26 a of second member is of asubstantially uniform thickness except proximate first and second ends26 b, 26 c. At each of first and second ends 26 b, 26 c, the wall is ofan increased thickness in the regions disposed on either side of slot34. The regions of increased thickness form a pair of opposing feet 38,40, each of which includes a substantially planar bottom face 42, 44(FIG. 3) and complementary inner faces 46, 48. Inner faces 46, 48preferably are disposed at right angles to longitudinal axis “Y” and arepositioned a distance “W” apart from each other when bracket 10 is notengaged with rod 14 and is in the at-rest position (FIGS. 5 & 6). Inother words, slot 34 has a width “W” when mounting bracket 10 is in anat-rest position. It will be understood that while feet 38, 40preferably are provided only at first and second ends 26 b, 26 c ofsecond member 26, they may, alternatively, extend for substantially theentire length of second member 26 and be disposed on either side of slot34.

Each foot 38 defines an aperture 50 (FIG. 4) and each foot 40 defines anaperture 52 (FIG. 4). Apertures 50, 52 are disposed at right angles tolongitudinal axis “Y” and are aligned one with the other. FIG. 9 showsthat each aperture 50 preferably is internally threaded.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, firstmember 24 is disposed at an angle relative to second member 26. Angle A″(FIG. 10) is between 15° and 25° relative to the longitudinal axis “Y”and, preferably, angle “A” is 21.5° relative thereto. Bracket 10 ismolded so that an aperture 56 is defined in the area where second end 24c of first member 24 intersects wall 26 a of second region 26. In thisinstance, first bore 28 of first member 24 is in communication withsecond bore 32 of second member 26. It will be understood, however, thatwall 26 a may be substantially continuous between first and second ends26 b, 26 c (apart from slot 34) and there is no communication betweenfirst bore 28 and second bore 32.

Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that first end 24 b of first member24 extends longitudinally outwardly for a distance beyond first end 26 bof second member 26. Furthermore, second end 26 c of second member 26extends longitudinally outwardly for a distance beyond second end 24 bof first member 24. Preferably, first member 24 is around six incheslong and second member 26 is around two and a half inches long. It willbe understood, however, that second member 26 could be longer than firstmember, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Mounting bracket 10 is used in the following manner. As indicatedpreviously, it should be understood that bracket 10 is designed to beengaged with a previously installed straight shower rod 14 that ismounted in bathtub enclosure 12 and is secured between first wall 16 andthe opposing second wall. When the user wishes to install a curvedshower rod 60, mounting bracket 10 is engaged with straight rod 14. Thisis accomplished by grasping first region “B” of bracket 10 and pullingit outwardly away from second region “C” thereof. This movement,illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 8 causes first region “B” to rotateaway from second region “C” about living hinge 36. The movement causesthe width of slot 34 to increase from width “W” (FIG. 5) to a width “W1”(FIG. 3). As is evident when comparing FIGS. 5 and 3, width “W1” issubstantially larger than width “W”.

Once slot 34 has expanded in width to a sufficient degree to allowstraight shower rod 14 to pass therethrough, bracket 10 is moved towardrod 14 so that rod 14 enters second bore 32 thereof. It will beunderstood that the second bore 32 will have to be of a width that is atleast as wide as the diameter of the straight rod 14 that is to bereceived therethrough. Once straight rod 14 has passed through slot 14,first region “B” is released. Width “W1” of slot 34 decreases once againto width “W” and a portion of straight rod 14 becomes encircled by andtrapped between first and second regions “B”, “C” as shown in FIG. 9. Ifmounting bracket 10 is not positioned adjacent one of the first andsecond ends 14 a, 14 b of rod 14, it may be slid along rod 14 until itis in the correct location. The one of the first and second ends 14 a,14 b is therefore received in the second bore 32 of bracket 10. Itshould also be noted that bracket 10 may be rotated around thecircumference of rod 14 to properly orient bracket 10. Preferably,bracket 10 is oriented so that slot 34 therein is adjacent a lowermostregion of rod 14 that is opposed to the top of sidewall 18 of bathtub20.

At this point, mounting bracket 10 is engaged with straight shower rod14 but is not securely retained thereon. In order to securely retainmounting bracket 10 in place, a securement mechanism must be engaged. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, a fastener 54 is insertedinto each pair of aligned apertures 50, 52 in both pairs of feet 38, 40at each end of second member 26. Fasteners 54 are rotated so thatthreads on the exterior surface thereof become threadably engaged withthe threads in aperture 50. Fasteners 54 are engaged with second member26 to prevent slot 34 from expanding after the portion of the straightshower rod 14 is captured within the second bore 32. When fastener 54 isso engaged, mounting bracket 10 is fixedly secured to rod 14 and is notremovable therefrom unless the securement mechanism is disengaged, i.e.,unless fastener 54 is unscrewed. It will be understood that other typesof securement mechanisms can be utilized on mounting bracket 10 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For instance, sometype of clamping mechanism can be used to bring first region “B” towardsecond region “C”. It should be noted that faces 46, 48 do not have tocontact each other when mounting bracket 10 is engaged on straight rod14. It is only necessary that first and second regions “B”, “C” bebrought close enough to each other to narrow slot 34 to a point that itis smaller than the diameter of rod 14.

Curved rod 60 may be engaged with bracket 10 prior to bracket 10 beingengaged on rod 14 or after bracket 10 has been engaged therewith. FIG. 4shows an end 60 a of curved rod 60 being inserted into first bore 28 offirst member 24. Thus, end 60 a of rod 60 is received in the first bore28 of bracket 10. End 60 a is slid inwardly for a distance of aroundthree inches so that rod 60 has sufficient purchase in bracket 10. Thecurvature of typical curved rods starts approximately four inches fromeither end. Thus, the end 60 a of curved rod 60 that is engaged withbracket 10 is substantially straight and is not curved.

Once rod 60 has been engaged with bracket 10 and bracket 10 has beenengaged with rod 14, a second bracket 10 b (FIG. 1) is engaged with thesecond end 14 b of rod 14 in the same manner as has been describedabove. It should be noted, however, that a second end 60 b of curved rod60 preferably is engaged with the second bracket 10 b prior to thatbracket being engaged with second end 14 b of rod 14. Additionally, itshould be noted that brackets 10 a and 10 b are engaged on straightshower rod 14 in such a manner that they are mirror images of eachother. It should also be noted that the first members 24 thereof extendoutwardly away from the interior of enclosure 12 to ensure that thecurvature of curved rod 60 is such that it extends outwardly beyond thefront wall 18 of bathtub 20. Additionally, because first and secondmembers 24, 26 are coplanar, straight shower rod 14 and curved rod 60are retained in coplanar relationship with each other. It should beunderstood, however, that bracket 10 may be otherwise designed so thatstraight shower rod 14 and curved shower rod 60 may be held in offsetrelationship with each other, i.e., that may be held a spaced distancevertically away from each other by vertically offsetting the first andsecond members 24, 26 relative to each other on the body of bracket 10.

Once both brackets 10, 10 b have been secured to the first and secondends 14 a, 14 b of rod 14, then a shower curtain 62 can be suspendedfrom rod 60 by a plurality of rings 64 or hooks (not shown). Straightrod 14 can be used in any manner desired by user, but a suitable use forrod 14 is as a place to hang towels 66 and items such as shower caddies(not shown) thereon.

Should the user desire to ensure that mounting bracket 10 not be able toslide longitudinally along straight rod 14, or rotated circumferentiallyabout the same, an adhesive strip or other type of movement retardingmechanism is engaged with bracket 10 prior to installation of the same.This is shown in FIG. 8 where an adhesive strip 57 is applied to firstregion “B”.

It should be noted that while it is disclosed that first and secondregions “B”, “C” of second member 26 are molded as a unitary piece andare secured together along a living hinge 36, it will be understood thatthe two sections “B”, “C” may, alternatively be separate components thatare joined together by a separate hinge.

One of the advantages of bracket 10 is that it can be used to install acurved shower rod 60 without removing the previously installed straightshower rod 14 and thereby running the risk of damaging the first wall 16and second wall of the enclosure 12. Another advantage of bracket 10 isthat it is not fixedly secured to straight rod 14 itself. If it is laterdecided to remove curved rod 60, straight rod 14 has not been damaged bythe installation of curved rod 14 such as by drilling screws into thesame. Additionally, the installation of bracket and later removalthereof, if desired, is quick and easy and is accomplished with the useof a single screwdriver.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A method of mounting a curved shower rod in a bathtub enclosurecomprising: providing a straight shower rod that is already installedbetween two opposed walls of a bathtub or shower enclosure a distancevertically above a floor surface or bathtub surface; engaging a firstmounting bracket onto the already installed straight shower rod;engaging a first end of the curved shower rod in the first mountingbracket; engaging a second end of the curved shower rod in a secondmounting bracket; and engaging the second mounting bracket onto thealready installed straight shower rod; such that the second mountingbracket is spaced a distance from the first mounting bracket.
 2. Themethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of providing the straightshower rod further includes: securing a first end and a second end ofthe straight shower rod to the walls using a pair of installationbrackets.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the firstmounting bracket is engaged with the straight shower rod a distanceinwardly from one or the other of the first and second ends thereof andthe first mounting bracket is then moved to a first position adjacent afirst one of the pair of installation brackets.
 4. The method as definedin claim 3, wherein the step of moving the first mounting bracket to thefirst position includes sliding the first mounting bracket along anexterior circumferential surface of the straight shower rod.
 5. Themethod as defined in claim 4, wherein the step of engaging the secondmounting bracket on the straight shower rod further includes moving thesecond mounting bracket along the exterior circumferential surface ofthe straight shower rod to a second position adjacent a second one ofthe pair of installation brackets.
 6. The method as defined in claim 5,wherein the steps of moving the first mounting bracket or the secondmounting bracket along the straight shower rod includes sliding thefirst mounting bracket or the second mounting bracket longitudinallyalong the straight shower rod.
 7. The method as defined in claim 1,wherein the step of engaging the first mounting bracket or the secondmounting bracket with the curved shower rod with includes: inserting anend of the curved shower rod into a bore of a first member of therespective one of the first mounting bracket or the second mountingbracket.
 8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the step ofengaging the first mounting bracket or the second mounting bracket onthe straight shower rod includes changing a diameter of a bore definedin a second member of the respective one of the first mounting bracketor the second mounting bracket.
 9. The method as defined in claim 8,wherein the step of changing the diameter of the bore defined in thesecond member includes moving a first section of the second member awayfrom a second section of the second member so as to increase the size ofa slot defined in the second member.
 10. The method as defined in claim9, wherein the step of moving the first section of the second memberaway from the second section thereof includes rotating the first sectionabout an axis extending along a hinge which joins the first and secondsections together.
 11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein thestep of engaging the first mounting bracket or the second mountingbracket with the straight shower rod further includes moving the firstmounting bracket or the second mounting bracket toward the straightshower rod so that a length of the straight shower rod enters the slotafter the slot has been increased in size.
 12. The method as defined inclaim 11, further comprising the step of moving the first section of thesecond member back toward the second section thereof after the length ofthe straight shower rod enters the bore of the second member so as toreduce the size of the slot.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12,further comprising the step of securing the first second and secondsections together after the slot has been reduced in size.
 14. Themethod as defined in claim 13, wherein the step of securing includespassing a fastener through an aligned first hole in the first sectionand a second hole in the second section.
 15. The method as defined inclaim 9, further comprising: rotating the first mounting bracket or thesecond mounting bracket about an exterior circumferential surface of thestraight shower rod so as to position the slot in the second memberthereof in a location opposed to the floor surface or the bathtubsurface of the enclosure.
 16. The method as defined in claim 1, whereinthe step of engaging the first end of the curved shower rod in the firstmounting bracket occurs after the step of engaging the first mountingbracket onto the already installed straight shower rod.
 17. The methodas defined in claim 1, wherein the step of engaging the first end of thecurved shower rod in the first mounting bracket precedes the step ofengaging the first mounting bracket onto the already installed straightshower rod.
 18. A method of installing a curved shower rod comprising:providing a pair of installation brackets; providing a pair of mountingbrackets; installing a straight shower rod to a first wall and a secondwall of a bathtub or shower enclosure using the pair of installationbrackets; engaging a first one of the pair of mounting brackets onto thestraight shower rod at a first location; engaging a first end of acurved shower rod with the first one of the pair of mounting brackets;engaging a second end of the curved shower rod with a second one of thepair of mounting brackets; and engaging the second one of the pair ofmounting brackets onto the straight shower rod at a second location,where the second location is spaced from the first location.
 19. Themethod as defined in claim 18, further comprising: moving the first oneof the pair of mounting brackets to a position inwardly of a first oneof the installation brackets; and moving the second one of the pair ofmounting brackets to a position inwardly of a second one of theinstallation brackets.
 20. The method as defined in claim 19, furthercomprising: detachably securing the first one of the pair of mountingbrackets to the straight shower rod; and detachably securing the secondone of the pair of mounting bracket to the shower rod.
 21. The method asdefined in claim 19, further comprising: positioning the curved showerrod laterally adjacent the straight shower rod.